Closing device for bottles



(No Model.)

M. RHEINSTROM. CLOSING DEVICE FOR BOTTLES, &c.

No. 447,974. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES RHEINLTROM, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CLOSING DEVICE FOR BOTTLES, 80C- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,974, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed November 25, 1890. Serial No. 872,631. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MosEs RHEINSTROM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closing Devices for Bottles and other Vessels; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to means for sealing or closing bottles and other vessels after a portion of the contents thereof have been withdrawn; and it consists, essentially, in devices whereby a flexible sack is inflated to required dimensions within areceptacle.

My invention is hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference point out similar parts on each figure, Figure 1 represents an ordinary wine-bottle closed with a cork through which is inserted a tube carrying attachments embodying my invention. Fig.

2 is a similar view showing the tube elevated and the flexible sack distended, the detachable ball employed for inflating purposes being adjusted upon the valve-cup. Fig. 3 is a like view, the inflating-ball removed and the valve-closing plug being inserted in place. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of a port-ion of the inflatingball, showing its interior construction. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the cup attached to the upper end of the tube, parts being broken away, showing interior construction. Fig. 6 is a view of the lower end of the air-duct tube, showing the eductionopening, the expansible sack being removed.

In the drawings, A is an ordinary bottle; 13, a cork, preferably made of rubber, having a bore I), through which the air-duct tube (3 is free to pass vertically, said tube also having an eduction-orifice c and an inflow-opening 0', for a purpose that will presently be set forth.

D is an expansible sack, preferably of thin rubber, into which the lower end of the tube G is inserted, said sack at its upper end being closely connected by means of wrapped wire or any suitable means to the tube, which is preferably provided with an extending head or flange 0 over which the mouth of the sack is passed, the object being to have a hermetical closure at the point of connection.

Adjusted at the top of the tube 0 is a valvecup D, provided with an interior yielding diaphragm cl, onto which rests the lower end of a propellible stud or pin (1, so that a vertical downward pressure of said plug will distend said diaphragm and allow air to How downward through one or more peripheral orifices (Z into the tube 0 and be therefrom expelled to distend the sack. I do not limit myself to this special construction; but any suitable valve will be within the scope and purview of my invention.

E is a removable rubber ball having a lower open nipple e, that will closely fit into the upper end of the cup-valve, and when so adjusted will force downward the stud d,

thereby actuating the diaphragm and opening a conduit for admission of air to the tube and'therefrom to and within the sack. It will be readily understood that by repeated compression of the ball E said sack will be supplied with air and be distended, asillustrated in Fig. 2.

As before described the duct-tube is movable vertically through the aperture of'the cork, whereby the sack can be elevated to any desired point within the bottle. After the sack is inflated to a required degree and at a predetermined elevation'the ball E is disconnected from the cup and a supplementary cork c is placed as a closure within the upper opening of the cup, whereby the stud is protected and the admission or escape of air is prevented. lVhen, however, it is desired to withdraw the air from within the inflated sack, the cork c is removed and the valve-pin d pressed downwardly, thus opening the valve of the cup, causing the air to escape upwardly and admitting the removal of the tube and its attached sack through the neck of the bottle.

In practice my invention is intended to close that portion of the interior of a vessel from which the contents have been partially removed.

In the drawings I have illustrated an ordinary bottle, but do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to such inclosures.

It is adapted for use upon receptacles of any shape or conformation.

It principally relates to inclosures that con tain wine, beer, effervescent or gaseous liquids, which from time to time are only partially withdrawn from the vessel, and the quantity thereof remaining thereby becoming liable to be soured or otherwise deteriorated.

The object of my invention is to keep the remaining liquid conten s of a receptacle from which a portion has been withdrawn protected from contact with the air that naturally fills up the vacancy occasioned by reason of withdrawal of portions of the liquid contents from time to time. The quantity left, if wine, is liable to become sour; it gaseous liquid, to become fiat; and other descriptions of liquid will in various ways deteriorate by reason of contact with the atmosphere between its upper surface and the tubular neck or other outflow member of the vessel, this defect being present even when the ordinary stopper is inserted in place, and

especially if there be any imperfect corkage.

It is manifest that while my invention is specially adapted for closing the vacancy occurring when simple liquids are withdrawn from bottles or other vessels, it is also applicable for use for semi-liquids or solids of an effervescing or volatile or deliquesoent nature such, for instance, as preserves, jams, medicinal compoundsnecessary to protect from atmospheric influence.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. Inthe herein-described device for sealing portions of the interior of a vessel from which the contents have been partially withdrawn,the combination of an air-duct tube and an attached disteusible sack with a cork having a vertical: bore, through which the tube will be free to move vertically to desired elevations, and means, as set forth, for expanding said sack by introduction of air therein through said duct, said duct being provided at its upper end with a valve controlling the admission and expulsion of air through the induction-opening of said tube, as and for the purpose intended, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described device for sealing portions of a vessel the contents of which have been partially withdrawn,which consists in an air-duct tube provided with an ingress and egress orifice, said tube carrying at its.

lower end an expansible sack and at its upper end a cup supplied with a valve controlling the admission and expulsion of air to and from the expansible sack, said cup provided with an independent removable cork 0 all in combination with a closing-cork B, having a vertical bore 1), which receives the duct-tube, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described device for sealing portions of a vessel the contents of which have been partially withdrawn, consisting of an orificed cork 13, carrying an air-duct O,

having attached to its lower end an expansible sack D and to its upper end aValve-cup D,

provided with supplementary cork 0 all in combination with removable compress-ball E, having apertured nipple e, as and for the purpose intended, substantially as described. In testimony that 1 claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MOSES RHEINSTROM.

lVitnesses:

ALFRED HILL, MosEs L. OAHN. 

